I got 3 last year at an auction. There were very dry and are starting to come back but I won't see any blooms this year.

I'm stretching out and trying a few new types of irises (Spurias, Arilbreds, and some of the smaller dwarf irises). While looking at Comanche's offerings I wondered which Spurias others of you are growing and how they are doing.

Leslie, I have not gotten around to Sibs. I think they need more water don't they? I have sandy soil and hot summers so I can't grow the water lovers unless I stick them in a bucket in the shade! I have not tried the Species X either. The next thing I want to try...heh, heh, heh, (you won't see it coming Rob ) is the Pacific Coast Natives! I have been told it may be too hot for them though, so that's why I'm trying the spurias first!

I only have 2 spurias, the white species (I think) found at an old home site and a hybrid I've lost track of the name from Dee several years ago- it has never bloomed, but is still around. Its supposed to be violet and rust. I relocated it last year in hopes of making it happy enough to bloom.

I'd like to try some others. I get the impression they take a few years to settle in, is that what those of you who grow them have seen?

"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi

It seems all across the board, here.....I've had Sunny Day a long time, and it seemed to take forever to really start growing.....Missouri rainbows took off like a rocket, and was covered in bloom the year following it's planting.....Piper May always seems to be a 'slow grower', but has bloomed regularly, although, it was planted at the same time as "MR", it's only about 1/4 the size . I grow mine in the same beds, with the same culture, as the bearded iris....the only exception is, I mulch them, after planting , so the soil never dries out. After the first year, though, I remove the mulch.

I leave the mulch (pine straw) on the SIB's and JI's, although , I do have a coule SIB's that do well without being mulched. My beardless are just starting to "wake up"....I see some green starting to come ! I got several, last year (SIB's and JI's) that , IMHO, weren't "packed correctly"....they were 'bare root", with nothing to keep them damp......and a few of those , I'm sure, aren't going to make it....they were too dried out .

My Spurias are all NOIDs. One bright yellow I've had for a few years, the others came from Mamajack in a 2014 mixed batch. Most are sending up stalks this year, and I can see a lovely cream color on one. I had a Comanche Acres order in and later asked to add Highline Amethyst to go in the Polly and Vi bed (didn't tell the vendor that, though). Jim Hedgecock wrote back and said he would add it as my bonus. http://www.comancheacresiris.com/inc/sdetail/324